As if you needed a reason . . . longer and warmer days, blue blue skies, birds and insects and flowers just waking up to the world. All this makes spring pretty great. Even still, we thought we'd take a moment to celebrate all there is to love about this incredible season. Here are nine reasons:

3. Spring Break! Forget Cancun (or dare we say Daytona?), inspiring college students from the University of Virginia and the University of MarylandAlternative Spring Break Programs chose the tropical shores of the Chesapeake to spend their vacations. Here they braved chilly nights on CBF's beach, planted trees across Maryland's farm fields, and cleaned oyster shell at our Oyster Restoration Center. Take a look at these photos to see these dedicated students in action, then watch the video below for a more in-depth view of what inspires these extraordinary students.

4. Learning outside! This past Monday, our spring education season launched with full force. Each spring, thousands of students and teachers come out with us to learn about the Bay and its waters and how they can help them. We've still got spots available on some of our programs—click here to sign up.

5. Taking pictures! Spring's early morning light, sweetbay magnolias stretching their newly blooming branches to the sky, a river's still, quiet surface just before twilight—these moments can inspire even the most photographically uninclined individuals. And what better way to showcase these images than by submitting them to our annual Save the Bay Photo Contest launching this coming Monday.

8. Sailing and boating! Is there anything better than that first day out on the water . . . when the air isn't so numbingly cold and the wind on your face is refreshing rather than irritating? We can't wait for spring days out on the water—join us for one of our Bay Discovery trips!

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